Puerto Rico

Wepa! This Latino commonwealth of the U.S. remains a vacation gem, whether it's the bright lights and colonial quarter of San Juan; the laid-back, castaway feel of isles Vieques and Culebra; or the fascinating towns, beaches, rainforests, and sites all over the rest of the island.

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Bobbin´ for Lace (and More) in Western Puerto Rico

Freya19Way out west near the city of Aguadilla (and a two-hour drive from San Juan), the good-size town of Moca (pop. 38,000), founded in 1772, enjoys a unique status in Puerto Rico: it´s the island´s capital of mundillo, intricate cotton bobbin lace brought over from Spain centuries ago, still laboriously woven by hand, and used to adorn all manner of textile items, from handkerchiefs and shirts to tablecloths. (Bobbins are small wooden spindles around which the cotton thread is wound, and the…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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The jewel in Puerto Rico's eco crown: El Yunque rainforest

Javier_Art_Photography The "Isle of Enchantment" offers an amazingly diverse menu of options to visitors, in capital San Juan and well beyond - history and culture, for sure, but also tasty eating, drinking, and beaching, along with memorable partying and much much more. But one side of Puerto Rico you should definitely not miss is its wealth of eco opportunities, from glowing "bioluminescent" bays to spectacular waterfalls, and most especially a large swath about an hour's drive from San…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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5 highlights of the holidays in Puerto Rico

TexPhoto There may be no snow - and precious little ice skating or hot cocoa - on this lush, tropical Caribbean island, but there’s certainly holiday cheer, and lots of it, for a good long time – in fact, Puerto Rico takes pride in having the world’s lengthiest season of Navidad (Christmas), around 45 days or so, beginning right after Thanksgiving (meaning the third Friday in November) and lasting through mid-January. Along the way are various festivities, activities, and highlights not to…

Started by David Paul Appell

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Marking its 500th anniversary, Old San Juan remains an atmospheric classic

DiscoverPuertoRico.com El Viejo San Juan is the core of one of the Americas' oldest still existing cities, and this year Puerto Rico has been marking the 500th anniversary of its founding in 1521 by Juan Ponce de León (of Florida Fountain of Youth fame). Its strategic location made it the first stop of many merchant and military ships traveling from Spain to the rest of the empire's colonies, so it's packed not just with the requisite cobblestone streets, plazas and charming Spanish colonial…

Started by David Paul Appell

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Max Pesling February 12, 2011 at 5:54am

Okay, so what's up with eTurboNews constantly bashing Puerto Rico? Not long ago Dr. Elinor Garely wrote the most scathing report about one of my favorite destinations I have ever seen. Tonight, I just read eTN Editor-in-Chief Nelson Alcantara's shockingly, intentionally negative report on Puerto Rico. What gives, folks?

On another front, is anyone beside me annoyed by the CONSTANT coverage of the Seychelles on eTN? Seems every time the prime minister sneezes, there's a story on eTN. Can you connect the dots? Call me cynical, paranoid, or just plain evil-minded, but one could, in a moment of unfettered imagination, suppose that the Seychelles is trying to grab market share from other tropical islands and has started a smearing campaign to make sure American tourists don't go to San Juan, and oh, by the way, here are 3,452 stories on the Seychelles in case you're considering another destination.

Now of course I'm not suggesting this is the case, I'm trying to be funny here. But still, WHAT THE HECK IS UP??
Victor Balbin February 6, 2011 at 9:58am

Sorry... I dont have a solid contact there.

The only one that comes to mind is Naireisa Gines at 787 721 2400
GreenGlobalTravel.com January 21, 2011 at 10:34pm

Hey guys, I'm desperate to get in touch with the Puerto Rico Board of Tourism asap for a freelance piece I'm working on. Anybody have a solid contact there? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Max Pesling January 8, 2011 at 12:52am

Here's the latest, looks like eTurboNews is backpedaling after the Dr Elinor Garely article that trashed Puerto Rico (full disclosure: one of my favorite destinations as a tourist -- I have no stake in it). They just published this press release today:

(Forimmediaterelease.net) HONOLULU (January 6, 2011)—A recent article published on TourismExecutives, a publication that is a member of the eTurboNews Group, has become the center of a heated debated, which in turn has caused a bit of controversy.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has claimed in a recent media release the article (www.eturbonews.com/20332/puerto-rico-paradise-plagued-pollution ) does depict the state Puerto Rico tourism is currently under. eTN gave the Puerto Rico Tourism Company the opportunity to post a rebuttal in the form of a press release on eTurboNews entitled Getting Out the Good News on Puerto Rico ( www.eturbonews.com/20392/getting-out-good-news-puerto-rico ).

In response, eTN publisher Thomas Steinmetz has said: “eTurboNews adheres to high standard of reporting and enforces a 100 percent neutrality policy on issues covered. The article in question is not an opinion, but rather a carefully and thoroughly researched article.”

Mr. Steinmetz added, “eTN simply stated facts. In the event that certain claims are proven to be inaccurate, eTN does and have in the past issued a retraction.”

According to Mr. Steinmetz, Dr. Elinor Garely did extensive research before publishing the final copy of the article. “We do understand some of the financial data changed after this research was completed. eTN is working on a follow-up article to reflect these changes,” he added. “eTN stands by the facts presented in our article at this time, except for changes in the financial data.”

For the past ten years, eTN has proven itself to be one of the most dynamic forums in today’s travel and tourism industry. Keep the discussions going by posting comments to our articles onwww.eturbonews.com
Victor Balbin January 5, 2011 at 6:05pm

If you are visiting Puerto Rico this January and can read a little Spanish, here is an upcoming event. COUNTRYSIDE TOURS
Amador island Tours January 3, 2011 at 9:28pm

Hola Nancy; Old San Juan,Condado and Isla Verde areas as well most residential areas are safe.So far no problem or dilema has arisen involving a Tourist. Or just ask yourself why Royal Caribbean,Princess ,Galaxy and so many others Cruise lines and airlines have Puerto Rico at a Previleges Positioning on the Caribbean. I had being in Boston, DC.Baltimore if read News paper know what i mean but that doesn't worry that much specially being a minority member. The most Important asset Puerto Rico has is it's people; ask anybody of your friend that had visited us. Enjoy your stay in Puerto Rico;you will have Fun guanrantee ;Chao!
Nancy Lewis January 3, 2011 at 9:10pm

WOW, I am certainly glad 10 that this article came out AFTER I made my reservations to spend a night in Puerto Rico and 2) that I am only spending one night there! I had planned to spend 2-3 nights in San Juan prior to departing on a cruise. That would have given me a lot more time to tour. And, yes, we have murders, drugs and other crimes here on the mainland, but at least I know where not to go to avoid much of the problem. On Puerto Rico, I am just a tourist and not as saavy as I might be in NYC, Boston, DC, Providence or other large city here.
Amador island Tours January 3, 2011 at 7:02pm

Of Course we have crime,drugs, among several other related problems to this economical World Crisis...Who doesn't nowadays?. Mr or Ms Garely;can you tell me... But at least in Puerto Rico you can walk around no one will be on top of a building roof shooting everyone that walks by or a kid probably with his parents Guns shoting his fellow classmates at school...I think you should become part of the solution like most person here and around the World are...
Max Pesling January 3, 2011 at 5:36pm

I HAVE NEVER READ SUCH A NEGATIVE PIECE OF TRASH IN ALL MY LIFE! I don't know who this Dr. Elinor Garely is or what her doctorate is in, but what has Puerto Rico done to her? Yes, there's crime, yes, there's pollution, but guess what? There's crime and pollution in most destinations around the world, including right here in the good ol' USA. Call me paranoid, but this article didn't happen by chance. There has to be an agenda behind such a thorough trashing of one of the most charming destinations in the Caribbean. I wonder, who would benefit from Puerto Rico's tourism industry taking a hit? There's a lot of candidates, obviously, so we may never know who's behind this. But in my book, somebody is.
David Lawrence January 3, 2011 at 4:39pm

I like Puerto Rico & I could say bad things about it or about almost any other place, like Tibet, many African countries, most Middle East countries, Russia, Mexico & Mississipi. But they're still interesting places to visit! So I'm adding a better Q to your Q Ed: Why'd they write a story like this?